A regulatory role for neurokinin B in placental physiology and pre-eclampsia

Tachykinin dogma has assumed, so far, that neurokinin B (NKB) is a neuropep tide that is not produced in any peripheral tissue even though its endogeno us receptor, NK3, has been found in a number of locations throughout the hu man body. We have found an abundant source of peripheral NKB in the human a nd rat placenta. In this review we describe the discovery of NKB in the pla centa and examine its possible role in placental physiology and pre-eclamps ia (PE). Excessive secretion of placental NKB into the maternal circulation during the third trimester of pregnancy has been found in women suffering from PE. This may provide the key to the cause of the multiple and complex symptoms associated with this potentially life-threatening illness. We also reveal the structural organisation of the human NKB gene for the first tim e as well as discussing putative mechanisms for its control. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.